Award-winning homeless charity Gillingham Street Angels has opened a new store in Chatham High Street.
Customers were welcomed for the first time at the charity shop's grand opening last Saturday (22 October), taking over the former Argos which shut in January. The store mainly sells furniture and household items, although it also has a sports equipment section and a free school uniform bank. It is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
The charity signed a flexible, 12-month lease with the landowner, the Rochester-based charity Richard Watts, earlier this year.
Dozens of local residents took to social media to congratulate the charity for its latest store opening, including Medway Labour Group leader Cllr Vince Maple. He said: "Great to catch up with Neil, Kim, Tracey & the Gillingham Street Angels team along with [Cllr] Simon Curry. Their new hub at the former Chatham Argos site is now open. "As well as raising funds it’s a great place to grab a bargain or recycle some previously loved items."
Its three other shops, three cafes, food bank and warehouse remain open as usual, including the Rochester store which opened in April.
The new centre in Chatham employs three paid staff and three volunteers, with people being urged to sign up as volunteers to help the charity's growing workload. Chief executive Neil Charlick, who was once homeless himself and founded the charity, said: "We are in desperate need of volunteers we currently feed 13,000 people in Medway a month and this can’t be done without the help of the community." Those interested can email [email protected] to receive an application form. Donations, including electrical goods, furniture and school uniform, are also being accepted at the new Chatham branch. The opening of the charity shop comes just weeks after the former Argos was put up for sale, with offers for the freehold of the site being accepted by estate agent Sibley Pares until 16 November. Comments are closed.
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